Sense of coherence and physical health–related quality of life in Italian chronic patients: the mediating role of the mental component

Abstract

ObjectiveTo examine the relationship between sense of coherence (SOC) and physical health–related quality of life in patients with chronic illnesses by focusing on the mediating role of the mental component of quality of life.DesignCross-sectional survey design.SettingSecondary care; three departments of an Italian university hospital.MethodsThe participants (n=209) in the study were adult (≥18 years) outpatients with a chronic pathology (eg, diabetes, thyroid disorders or cancer) at any phase in the care trajectory (eg, pre-treatment, undergoing treatment, follow-up care). They agreed to participate in the study after providing their informed consent. Data were collected using a structured self-reporting questionnaire. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS, and mediation analysis was performed via PROCESS macro.ResultsThe SOC score of the study sample was equivalent to that of the general population (mean difference=−2.50, 95% CI −4.57 to 0.00). Correlation analysis showed that SOC was mainly correlated to the mental component (MCS) (r=0.51, p<0.01) of quality of life and then to the physical component (PCS) (r=0.35, p<0.01). Mediation analysis showed that SOC was directly related to MCS (p<0.001, 95% CI 0.62 to 0.99) but not to PCS (p=0.42, 95% CI −0.27 to 0.12). In turn, MCS was directly related to PCS (p<0.001, 95% CI 0.76 to 1.01). The indirect effect of SOC on PCS through MCS was significant (0.71, p<0.001, bootstrap 95% CI 0.54 to 0.91), thus supporting the mediating role of the mental component of quality of life.ConclusionThe indirect effect suggests that SOC is a marker of quality of life, especially of the mental component. The findings show that SOC is a psychological process that impacts patients’ mental health status, which in turn affects physical health. Better knowledge of a person’s SOC and how it affects his/her quality of life may help to plan tailoring interventions to strengthen SOC and improve health-related quality of life.

Sense of Coherence and Quality of Life in Patients Treated with Antivitamin K Oral Anticoagulants: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…We found that OA-treatment-specific QoL scores were associated with better internal resources, as measured by the SOC scale [45]. In our study, the self-management domain was correlated with the results from the SOC's comprehensibility subscale.…”

A mediating role for mental health in associations between COVID‐19‐related self‐stigma, PTSD, quality of life, and insomnia among patients recovered from COVID‐19

“…For example, Galletta et al. ( 2019) examined the mediation effect of mental health between sense of coherence and physical HRQoL in 209 people with chronic diseases. They found that despite a nonsignificant direct association between sense of coherence and physical HRQoL, the indirect effect of the independent variable on HRQoL through mental health was significant.…”

“…Mediating roles of mental health in relationships between psychological factors and sleep problems/HRQoL have been reported (Galletta et al., 2019; Holtge et al., 2019; Pavlova et al., 2017). However, to the best of our knowledge, such investigations have never been studied among patients with COVID‐19.…”

“…Therefore, addressing mental health as an entity through which associations between COVID-19-related self-stigma/PTSD link to HRQoL/insomnia may help design effective intervention strategies to prevent negative psychological effects of COVID-19 on HRQoL and sleep.Prior studies have examined the extent to which mental health may have a mediating role. For example,Galletta et al( 2019)…”

The Actor–Partner Effects of Parenting Stress on Quality of Life Among Parents of Children with ASD: The Mediating Role of Mental Quality of Life

“…According to a study, mental health status had a mediating role between physical illnesses and individuals' perceptions of well-being (Lorem et al 2017). Besides, Galletta et al (2019) reported a relationship between mental and physical QoL and the mediating role of mental QoL in the relationship between a psychological construct, i.e., a sense of coherence with physical QoL.…”